Posted on 11/07/2013 3:03:07 PM PST by Jacquerie
INDIANAPOLIS - The leader of the Indiana Senate has invited lawmakers from every state to join him Dec. 7 at Mount Vernon, George Washington's Virginia home, to discuss the state-led process for crafting amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Senate President David Long, R-Fort Wayne, asks in a letter written to fellow legislative leaders that each state send a bipartisan group of three delegates to the "Mount Vernon Assembly."
He said the meeting will lay the groundwork for a Convention of the States that would, when established by Congress, propose amendments to change various provisions of the Constitution.
"The authors of the Constitution included a state-led amendment option as a check on a runaway federal government," Long said. "The dysfunction we see in Washington, D.C., provides an almost daily reminder of why this option is needed now more than ever."
The initial meeting won't actually consider potential amendment topics, Long said. Instead, it's intended to set up the rules to be followed if and when a constitutional convention is called.
There are two authorized methods for changing the nation's fundamental governing document. The only one that has been used is when two-thirds of Congress proposes an amendment and three-fourths of the states (38 states) ratify it.
However, the Constitution also permits what has come to be known as an "Article V convention," named for its placement in the fifth section of the Constitution.
Under that scenario, two-thirds of state legislatures (34 states) ask Congress to call a Convention of the States for proposing constitutional amendments. If the convention approves an amendment, it then can be ratified by three-fourths of the states and added to the Constitution without congressional approval.
Because an Article V convention has never been called, there are no clear rules on how it would begin — does every state have to pass an identical convention request? — what rules the convention would follow or whether it could be limited in scope.
The primary criticism of the convention idea is the possibility that a "runaway convention" will scrap the entire Constitution.
In fact, the current U.S. Constitution emerged from a convention called to recommend fixes to the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution.
Long tackled the "runaway convention" issue earlier this year for Indiana by winning approval of two new laws that severely restrict the ability of a Hoosier delegate to a future Article V convention to make decisions outside the explicit instructions provided by the General Assembly.
An Indiana delegate that acts contrary to the wishes of the legislature not only is automatically replaced, but also faces up to three years in prison.
"I was proud to see Indiana lead on this issue in the most recent legislative session and I will continue to support it as a legitimate tool of the states to push back against federal overreach and restore a more proper balance of power," Long said.
He said the Mount Vernon Assembly will devise a "prudent and cautious process" other states can follow to ensure an Article V convention remains focused on specific subjects.
Long has indicated he supports a convention that would propose amendments limiting the power of Congress to impose taxes and regulate business.
BAZINGO!
Repeal that ONE collectivist POS amendment, and watch how RED STATES bring BLUE states to HEEL!
You contradicted yourself.
When the states booted themselves from the senate, it meant that ALL power would soon float upward into DC. The popularly elected senate is not there to enforce the 10th Amendment; it is there to reflect the will of the mob.
The restoration of federalism, the vertical separation of power is a fundamental principle of our framers’ constitution. They knew that popularly derived bodies soon descend into majoritarian tyranny.
Actually I was sharing my wisdom. :-)
Also, consider that judicial nominees with a long past of hostility to the states would probably never get out of the senate judiciary committee.
THAT is federalism of an order higher than that of our framers. I like it.
When the states booted themselves from the senate, it meant that ALL power would soon float upward into DC. The popularly elected senate is not there to enforce the 10th Amendment; it is there to reflect the will of the mob
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That is exactly the point that I was trying to make. Sorry it wasn’t clear. I would like for all the various parts to get back to what was intended to begin with, but I have no faith that even a ConCon would do it, and in fact think that the results would likely be yet another aquiesence in mob rule.
I’ll take my constitutional amendments with a large side of Skittles and Unicorns. Levin’s ideas are all great but they won’t happen. 3/4 of the states is insurmountable in our polarized age. Here are thirteen reasons we won’t see any good amendments:
NY CA HI VT MA DE MD IL CT RI NJ OR
and here are 13 why there won’t be any terrible leftist ones:
UT ID OK WY MS AK GA TN KY MT ND SD
To enforce the 9th and 10th Amendments, return the states to the senate.
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That’s why I said I’d support repeal of the 17th amendment.
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Also, consider that judicial nominees with a long past of hostility to the states would probably never get out of the senate judiciary committee.
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That would be nice wouldn’t it? Even better it the Congress Critters would remove the current judges hostile to original intent and the states/individual rights.
it = if
The states will send delegates with commissions. They will not send representatives. Delegates have strictly limited power. They are agents of the states. There is really zero chance the amendment convention could descend into a free-for-all.
Okay. Adios.
Yeah, yeah. The trouble is no one is ever impeached and kicked out. Did Clinton get removed? No one is ever punished for their trampling on the freedoms and liberties of the People. Seldom is anyone removed from office and really punished for their action against the Constitutional rights of the American People. Not to mention when is the last time a Federal government department or program really been eliminated?
Don’t go for a constitutional convention under Article V.
Don’t.
http://enemiesforeignanddomestic.com/index.php?page=excerpt&p1=Foreign_Enemies_And_Traitors&p2=FEAT Part 1&
You and Levin are bros from different moms.
STRUCTURAL changes, as almost all of your amendments are, are exactly what’s needed.
I have no confidence in that - there’s too many socialistic and gimme types out there. And the Dems will fight like DemonRats to make sure they out number everyone.
Besides, as I said, I like the current constitution except for some of the amendments. Sorry we’ll just have to agree to disagree.
Here is the Indiana statute governing their convention delegates:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3088806/posts
A good start. Is there a list available of state or regional organizations working toward this goal so we can add a shoulder to the wheel?
NO! The pinkos would take over the whole thing and then it REALLY is over.
Its a pipe dream.
Any change to the present Constitution by whatever you want to call it will only insure the majority will prevail.
Federalism would be dead ..as I say this is an idiot idea no matter who proposes it.
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